Holiday Second Chance Romance (Clarice and Trevor) novel Chapter 38

38 Reality

win Ponts

Trevor POV

“What the hell are you talking about? You saw my parents.” “Not exactly, but I know they are with Clarice. Well, I know, at least your mom is,” she says. “Don’t speak in f**king riddles, Loretta. I’m losing patience.” “Trevor,” why are you being so cold to me? I don’t deserve to be treated this way. I’m not the one that left you. I’m here standing by you while Clarice is at the f**king Inn playing house with Nick Kringle,” she says.

Anger bubbles up inside me. I grip her by the shoulders. “Don’t you ever say such a thing again. Clarice would never betray me.” “Trevor, you are hurting me. I’m sorry, I just don’t want to lose you,” she says. I fight the urge to tell her it’s far to late for that. I loosen my grip on her shoulders. “Just tell me why you think my parents are with Clarice.”

“I just wanted to talk to her, but she wouldn’t answer my calls. She has me blocked. I figured if I called the Inn and pretended to be your mother, they would get her to the phone. I know she is angry, but I thought if I could just remind her that she is my best friend. Remind her how much! love her, and she loves me that she would agree to see us. Instead, your mother picked up the call. She was pissed that I was calling Clarice after what happened and pretending to be her,” she says.

F**k, it just keeps getting f**king better. Why the f**k are they here? Maybe, despite being angry with me, they are trying to help salvage my marriage. I know how much they love Clarice. They won’t want to lose her anymore than I do. “Tell me exactly what my mother said, Loretta.” “She said I was a conniving b**ch that had better stay away from her daughter and her family. She also said that I am nothing compared to Clarice. She was really mean, Trevor,” she says.

I release my grip on her shoulders and look toward the heavens. “No, she is right.” “What do you mean she is right? How can you say that,” she says, tears forming in her eyes. “Loretta, you need to go home. What happened between us was a mistake. I never should have given into lust in my drunken state, but what’s worse is I kept giving into it. When you proposed the whole involving Clarice, I saw a way out of my f**k up, but I should have known better. There is no more us, Loretta.”

This time she launches herself at me before I can stop her. “Trevor, you don’t mean that. I remember every touch and every word. You said you love me, and I’m not giving you up,” she says. I manage to peel her off me and hold her at arm’s length. ““Loretta, you are starting to sound unhinged. I understand things didn’t work out the way you had hoped, but you need to stop. You need to head back to your room and book a flight back to California. I’m leaving and when I get back with Clarice I don’t want you here.”

“You’re being serious. You really don’t want me, want us,” she says like my words are actually

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starting to sink in. “Loretta, what happened between us was a mistake. I hurt my wife. I need to find her and beg for her forgiveness.” “Do you really think she is going to forgive you, Trevor? You slept with her best friend. You told her you loved me. She isn’t going to forgive you. Hell, she probably won’t even see you,” she says. “Enough, go home, Loretta,” I say, ushering her toward the

door.

I make sure the door is locked behind me before I turn back toward the elevator. “This isn’t over,

Trevor. I’m not giving up on us. It should have been me. I’m the one that was willing to share even when Clarice wouldn’t. She left you Trevor. She doesn’t love you,” she screams. I’m grateful when the elevator door slides open and I step inside. When I turn, an older man steps inside and the door slides shut. My shoulders sag, and I rest my head against the elevator wall with my eyes closed.

“Better watch yourself with that one son. All the fun of an affair isn’t worth a bunny boiler if you know what I mean,” he says. My eyes open, and I look a man who looks to be in his seventies. Wrinkles around his eyes and a paunch hidden by a three–piece tailored suit indications of his age

and status. “You sound like you speak from experience. Believe me, I know how much I’ve screwed

1. up. All I want to do now is make it right.”

“Not from my own experiences, but I’ve seen many a marriage break up from men who thought there was something better only to find out how wrong they were. Take my word for it. That woman back upstairs is far from done,” he says. “Well, I’m done with her. I wish I could take everything back, but I can’t. Now I just have to beg for my wife’s forgiveness.” The door slides open and I quickly step out. “Good luck son, you are going to need it,” the man calls after me.

I rush out and make my way to my rental car. The drive will take me two hours, and I’m going to

need it. I need to figure out exactly what I’m going to say to convince my wife that I’m worth giving

another chance too. Almost two hours on the dot, I pass a sign that welcomes me to Noel, I pass a sign that welcomes me to Noel, Colorado. My heart starts to beat faster as I drive down what must be the main street. I drive

another ten minutes before the GPS has me arriving at a huge building that looks like it is fresh off

a Christmas card.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Could it be any more cliché? Loretta talking about the man that

was calling my wife his girl being called Nick Kringle, has me chuckling in disgust. What a gimmick I think, as I tighten my grip on the steering. Clarice will never be anyone’s girl but mine. She is my wife. I get my anger under control as I park the car. As I make my way toward the front of the

building, true excitement bubbles up inside me.

I know this won’t be easy, but Clarice is worth whatever I need to do to prove she is my heart. I push open the glass door and step inside the large lobby. The room is just as decorated as the outside of the Inn. A large wooden desk sits opposite a large wooden fireplace. A young woman with pixie cut hair and pink glasses waves me over. “Welcome to the Kringle Inn. What can I help

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you with, sir,” she asks. “I’m looking for someone. I was hoping you could tell me where I can find

her.”

The brightness in her eyes seems to fade, but her smile stays in place. “I may be able to help you. Who are you looking for,” she asks. “I’m here to see Clarice Banister. She is my wife.” “That’s funny. There must be two different Clarice Banisters because the one I know is dating my boss,” she says. “She is my wife. She isn’t dating anyone,” I say, trying to keep the anger from my voice. My father saying my name from behind me has my body stiffening.

I turn and come face to face with both my parents. Disappointment still the most prevalent emotion in both their eyes. “What are you doing here, Trevor,” my mother asks. “I should be asking that question. Why are you two here? Where is Clarice?” “She is busy with Nick,” my mother says.

“What, he made his bed. I’m not going to

“Alexia,” my father says, her name like a warning c

sugarcoat things since he is the one that did this,” she says.

something that is clearly none of his busine

pays.

“I’m not asking you to my love. I’m simply saying that Clarice may not want us talking to him about

my father “Have you both completely lost your minds? I’m your son. I get you are pissed at me for f**king up, but you should be helping me get my wife back instead of treating me like I’m the enemy.” “You are right, son, you are not the enemy, but you also aren’t the man I raised,” he

dys.

“I want to talk to Clarice. This is between us. I am still her husband and she is still my wife.” “Not for much longer,” a voice says that I’ve longed to hear for a week. When I turn to face her, my heart sinks. She looks just as beautiful as the day she walked out of our house, but the man standing with his arm around her waist has bile rising in my throat. This can’t be real.

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